UNH, all state colleges ’intend’ to open to students in fall

Staff report, news@seacoastonline.com

Friday

May 8, 2020 at 12:08 PMMay 8, 2020 at 4:25 PM

CONCORD -- The University of New Hampshire and all the colleges of the University System of New Hampshire and the Community College System of New Hampshire announced Friday they "intend to welcome students back to campuses for the fall term" amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The schools announced they are "working closely with state leaders and health professionals to develop guidelines and criteria that institutions will follow to support a safe return."

USNH enrolls 32,000 students combined at UNH, Keene State College, Plymouth State University and Granite State College. The state’s community college system includes Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth and Rochester.

Lisa Thorne of USNH said said the announcement reflects the intentions of the schools, but they also acknowledge the pandemic creates continued uncertainty.

UNH President James Dean wrote an update to the community, stating, "A return this fall will not look the same as any other time in UNH history. We don’t have all of the answers and ask for your patience and support as we continue to make decisions based on the evolving guidance from state and federal public health officials."

Dean noted "a robust testing system will need to be in place prior to the start of the academic year and will continue during the school year." He stated the school is consulting with state health officials and local hospitals. "Anyone showing symptoms will be tested promptly and quarantined if positive, in space we will set aside for that purpose," he wrote, adding UNH is "reviewing several tracing and tracking options for early and thorough identification of at-risk contacts."

He also wrote about changes to the ways education is delivered: "There will be options and flexibility for your education. Classes will be offered in a blended format to ensure access for everyone. Students can choose to stay home, be on campus and go to class, or be on campus but only attend some classes in person." He also promised accommodations for "employees who are at higher risk for the coronavirus."

"As the institutions plan for a return to campus, internal task forces are also preparing for scenarios along a spectrum of on-campus, socially distanced and online learning components in the event that some forms of remote learning may need to continue," all of the state’s schools announced in a press release.

In addition, the institutions of the Community College System are making plans to bring students back into labs this spring and summer to complete the required hands-on components of their coursework in technical programs.

SEACOAST CORONAVIRUS NEWS IS FREE: This content is being provided for free as a public service to our readers. Sign up for our free daily or breaking email newsletters and Seacoast Health newsletter to stay informed. Please support local journalism by subscribing to Seacoastonline.com or by subscribing to Fosters.com.

"We are pleased to speak as one voice for public higher education in New Hampshire to say that we will be here to serve students this coming academic year," said Susan Huard, interim chancellor, Community College System of New Hampshire, in a prepared statement. "This spring has shown us how adeptly our faculty, staff and students can adjust to changing circumstances."

"The vibrance, creativity, talent, and impact of our students, faculty, and employees who inspire our mission to the state of New Hampshire are missed, and we are working diligently to restore safe frameworks that will enable the return of our communities and their impact on our local economies," said Todd Leach, chancellor of USNH, in a prepared statement

The Community College System of New Hampshire consists of seven colleges, offering associate degree and certificate programs, professional training, transfer pathways to four-year degrees, and dual-credit partnerships with the state’s high schools. The system’s colleges, in addition to Great Bay, are Lakes Region Community College in Laconia; Manchester Community College; Nashua Community College; NHTI – Concord’s Community College; River Valley Community College in Claremont, Lebanon and Keene; and White Mountains Community College in Berlin, Littleton and North Conway.

Loading…

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.